Hello Melissa,
We live in Whangarei. My husband Kris was treated at Auckland City Hospital . This is the tertiary referral hospital for our region,
Are you being treated at Auckland City Hospital? You should be referred to the Head and Neck tumour board that meets Friday mornings to discuss all head and neck patients prior to treatment. This should be done IF you get a positive cancer diagnosis
Are you having the biopsy done privately at a private hospital?
I would not let anyone do further surgery without the collective wisdom of the H&N tumour board . This is a team of medical specialists. Surgeons, dentists, chemo oncologists, radiation oncologists, dieticians, speech therapists. Etc. they review the pathology and all relevant scans before coming up with the best treatment plan for you.
We were told that not many need a neck dissection these days as usually radiation takes care of the cancerous nodes.
I think you are wise to have the biopsy done quickly in the private system, but do not let them do anything further until you have been seen at the Head and Neck clinic.
Of course you still need to get the biopsy done. This is not cancer until the pathology from a biopsy says it is.
Please feel free to send me a Personal Message. If you do need guidance through this at ACH I am very willing to help.
By the way, I am not ruling out any surgery at the Mercy hospital , Kris eventually had his surgery done there but only after the Tumour board advised us he needed the surgery.
Wishing you well,
Tammy